What happened on Friday, 26 December 2025
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The Board of Health approved a septic plan for a proposed 32-townhouse project at 250 Turnpike Road on Dec. 23, 2025, contingent on a Department of Public Works memo confirming septic/waterline crossings. The design calls for a pressure-dose system serving 68 bedrooms and three large tanks.
Yeadon, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
The Yeadon Borough Council approved a balanced $11.29 million 2026 general fund budget and adopted a tax ordinance increasing the millage by 1.1 mills, down from an earlier 1.9‑mill proposal after stronger earned income tax receipts. Council also approved multiple grant applications and routine motions at the Dec. meeting.
Rockingham County, Virginia
On the chamber’s 100th News & Views episode, Diane Sawyer reflected on a decade-plus of promoting local businesses, strengthening ties with the city and using the program to spotlight community projects and leaders.
Maricopa County, Arizona
Chair Thomas Galvin used a year-end State of the County address to highlight a June balanced budget and five consecutive years of tax-rate cuts, $30 million in detention retention bonuses, a zoning-code overhaul, election-procedure reviews and new animal-care funding.
Memphis City, Shelby County, Tennessee
Ford Canale used his final meeting as council chairman to thank colleagues, announce a procedural change for public comment (addresses written on comment cards rather than spoken) and endorse Jana Swearingen Washington as chairwoman-elect.
Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
At the Dec. 22 council meeting, Reverend Robert Tate was sworn in as police chaplain and council members presented citations recognizing several local leaders and nonprofit organizers for community service, including environmental-justice activist Zulene Mayfield and founders of local support organizations.
Albemarle County, Virginia
Biscuit Run Park welcomed more than 128,000 visitors in its first full year, and Albemarle County said it is continuing work on trail expansion, athletic fields, a downhill bike park and a pedestrian bridge to improve west-side access.
Memphis City, Shelby County, Tennessee
The council approved multiple funding measures Dec. 16, including a DOJ grant to the police, $3.9 million for Bellevue Tennis Center phase two, $2.1 million for 10 park projects and $2.6 million in community grants; it also announced a 2% raise for firefighters and funding for female locker rooms.
Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Controller Joy Taylor presented revised Minimum Municipal Obligations (MMOs) for the city's pension funds for 2026 — $35,003 (O&E), $6,634,111 (police), and $2,936,576 (fire) — noting a $1,065,861 net change from prior approval but that the city had already budgeted the original amounts.
Bronx County/City, New York
En el cierre del especial, Diálogo Abierto recomendó visitar el espectáculo de las Rockettes en Radio City (presentaciones hasta el 5 de enero), el árbol de Rockefeller Plaza y la producción de El Cascanueces en Lincoln Center (funciones hasta el 3 de enero).
Moreno Valley, Riverside County, California
Mayor Ulysses Cabrera and the Moreno Valley City Council cut the ribbon on the Flight Deck Bike Park on Dec. 18. City officials described the facility as Southern California’s largest pump track and highlighted jump lines, pump tracks and a bicycle playground for young riders.
Bronx County/City, New York
Félix Rojas explicó en Diálogo Abierto que Men Let's Talk, iniciativa del Instituto para la Salud Familiar, nació tras la pandemia hace tres años para dar espacios mensuales donde hombres hablen de salud mental, finanzas y familia con apoyo profesional.
Aurora, DuPage County, Illinois
The mayor presented the Mayor's Award of Excellence to Tom Mefford for leading a neighborhood holiday light display that has grown to about 25 participating houses; a ribbon-cutting planned for this year was canceled after 10 inches of snow.
Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County said it completed a public-safety staffing study with police and fire rescue, highlighted community crime-response programs and training, and reported the Albemarle County Police Department earned accreditation on Dec. 4.
Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
On Dec. 22, 2025, the City of Chester council approved Ordinance No. 13 amending rules for the aggregated pension fund and adopted Resolution 149 to appoint three police cadets; both measures passed unanimously in recorded roll call votes.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
At its Dec. 23 meeting the Board approved the Dec. 9 minutes, a $450 annual stipend for elected board staff (FY27), a variance for 6 Brook Lane with conditions, and conditionally approved the septic plan for 250 Turnpike pending a DPW memo.
Bronx County/City, New York
En Diálogo Abierto, Aifra Ruiz (Plant Power Metro New York) describió el Reto Salud, un programa de 14 días que enseña cocina basada en plantas, explicó diferencias entre veganismo y vegetarianismo y ofreció consejos prácticos de planificación alimentaria.
Aurora, DuPage County, Illinois
Jessie Rangel Borg, who has lived in Aurora for 80 years, celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Day and received a visit from the city’s mayor. Family and lifestyle details were noted in the local report.
California Board of Registered Nursing, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California
At its Dec. 16 meeting, the Intervention Evaluation Committee discussed allowing conditional recommendations so program participants could advance (for example, from part-time to full-time) without returning to a full IEC hearing, while retaining case manager and program-manager review; the committee approved prior minutes and recessed to closed session to consider applicants.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Board discussed adding a records access stipend to the town‑clerk account, reviewed a request for an accountant certification stipend and approved a $5,000 annual stipend for a registered sanitarian (regional health agent) contingent on Northborough reimbursing half.
Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County said it launched the Tyler ERP Financial Management System to replace legacy systems and introduced a Vendor Access Portal to help vendors access transaction histories and improve customer service.
Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
Councilwoman Sue Lee Saro and the Long Beach African American Cultural Center announced a Jan. 17 parade and community celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr.; the parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on MLK Avenue in Anaheim and the celebration at MLK Park will run from noon to 5 p.m.
Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan
Councilwoman Melanie Rutherford and an unidentified event speaker welcomed residents to a family-friendly Harvest Fest/Oktoberfest at Pontiac City Hall, thanked the youth recreation team and noted the event is in its third year.
Albemarle County, Virginia
The Board of Supervisors adopted AC 44, the county's updated comprehensive plan, and the county launched an Enterprise Permitting and Licensing System with a Civic Access Portal to streamline permits and public access.
Clackamas County, Oregon
On the longest night of the year, community members, county staff and service providers in Clackamas County held a candlelight vigil for 33 people who died while unhoused. Speakers urged remembrance, described the stabilizing role of supportive housing and shared first-person accounts of survival and recovery.
Bronx County/City, New York
En un segmento de Diálogo Abierto (BronxNet), la abogada Limari Kasta explicó que la terminación de ciertos TPS deja a las personas «sin estatus legal» y urgió a quienes puedan verse afectados a consultar a abogados y recursos locales antes del vencimiento.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Taylor West, Southborough's director of public health nursing, received the Sandra Collins Public Health Nursing Award from the Massachusetts Health Officers Association for leadership in communicable-disease investigations, vaccination access and public-health programs.
Goodyear, Maricopa County, Arizona
The council appointed Brandon Hampton to serve as vice mayor from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026; the motion passed 7–0.
Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County announced that AstraZeneca will invest $4.5 billion to build two manufacturing facilities at Rivanna Futures, alongside other life-sciences investments and $11 million in grant awards to support site work and utilities.
Clackamas County, Oregon
Community members in Clackamas County gathered Dec. 21 to light candles and remember 33 people who died while living outdoors; attendees shared personal reflections and urged ongoing attention to neighbors experiencing homelessness. (Count stated at the vigil; not independently verified.)
Jennings County, Indiana
The board appointed Scott Smith to the area planning board (and referenced BZA service), reappointed Dr. Linda Hefner to the library board, approved payroll claims and prior meeting minutes (including a corrected executive-session date), and unanimously adjourned the meeting.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The Personnel Board approved an amended DPW business administrator job description but, after independent scoring, kept the existing grade; the department representative criticized the grading as nontransparent and staff said the town uses a proprietary GovHR tool that cannot be publicly released.
Goodyear, Maricopa County, Arizona
To comply with recent state legislation, Goodyear adopted zoning text amendments creating a middle‑housing overlay and permitting accessory dwelling units outside airport noise contours; council approved ordinance 2025‑1642 unanimously.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The Board of Health introduced Vincent ("Vinny") as a new food inspector for Southborough; members said he brings prior experience as a health agent and has worked through a public-health engagement (PHE) with the New England Public Health Alliance.
Goodyear, Maricopa County, Arizona
After a staff presentation and extended council Q&A, the Goodyear City Council voted 5–2 to adopt a four‑year water, wastewater and solid‑waste rate plan (resolution 2025‑2499) that phases roughly 5.8% annual increases, with average residential bills rising about $8.50 next year.
Jennings County, Indiana
County commissioners approved a $108,000 contract to pave the recycling center lot and install concrete pads for dumpsters; a $10,000 donation from the contractor was noted and staff discussed options to keep the center open during work.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The Personnel Board recommended $12,000 for workplace development and voted to sponsor a $25,000 pay/class study warrant article so a townwide salary review can begin if approved by town meeting; during public comment a lieutenant representative asked the board not to change lieutenant language in the Salary Administration Plan while a collective‑bargaining agreement is pending.
Rockingham County, Virginia
Eden Parks & Rec described a string of upgrades at Freedom Park — five ballfields (including a dedicated T‑ball field), LED stadium lights, pickleball courts, splash pad, RV spots and a dog park — many funded by grants and partnerships with Sen. Phil Berger and Rep. Reese Pirtle.
Rockingham County, Virginia
The school board authorized issuing RFQs to hire an owner's project manager and to select a design‑build team for a needs‑based elementary school project, aiming to speed design and reduce change orders.
Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County engineering asked commissioners to allocate leftover OSBM grant funds and interest from a 2022 indoor range design grant to replace a failing HVAC unit at an outdoor range trailer; commissioners approved the repair contingent on locating funds in sheriff’s budget or similar source.
Rockingham County, Virginia
Commissioners approved phase two of a countywide compensation study and authorized immediate staffing additions and temporary overtime arrangements for Department of Social Services to address high caseloads in child-protective services.
Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transportation, State Agencies, Organizations, Utah Executive Branch, Utah
During UDOT’s virtual public hearing, residents and canyon users raised safety and access concerns — including snowpush onto homes, the location of tolls, and the prospect of a single mobility hub causing congestion — while some attendees praised the transit focus and outreach.
Rockingham County, Virginia
At a Rockingham County commissioners meeting a citizen alleged a commissioner benefited from county‑related contracts; the commissioner replied that airport and school boards operate independently and denied impropriety.
Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The Board approved a constrained, Title 5-compliant septic plan for 6 Brook Lane that replaces a cesspool and adds a nitrogen-reduction treatment system; approval requires a yearly maintenance contract and submission of as-built plans.
Jennings County, Indiana
County officials approved a five-year contract with Motorola for an emergency notification system, citing console integration and an activation window of about two weeks; billing was noted to begin Feb. 15 and the quoted five-year cost was discussed as roughly $33,700.
Monmouth County, New Jersey
An unidentified commissioner said fellow commissioners are seeking to preserve a Revolutionary War–era parcel in Upper Freehold that is earmarked for a large development and opposed by local residents; the speaker cited a British encampment two days before the Battle of Monmouth as the reason to protect the site.
Bronx County/City, New York
Dr. Aki Fisher described Lincoln’s screening for social determinants, referral partnerships for medical respite and safety‑net and 'home for health' programs that link patients with housing resources to support recovery after procedures and manage chronic illness.
Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transportation, State Agencies, Organizations, Utah Executive Branch, Utah
UDOT presented an Environmental Assessment proposing a mobility hub at a gravel‑pit site, enhanced bus service with bus‑priority lanes, enclosed resort bus stops at Solitude and Brighton, and electronic variable tolling to reduce winter peak congestion; UDOT seeks public comment through Jan. 19, and the U.S. Forest Service’s cooperating‑agency comment period ends Jan. 9.
Bronx County/City, New York
Dr. Aki Fisher of Lincoln Hospital described the hospital's Pride Center as an integrated clinic providing primary care, cancer screening, chronic‑disease programs, hormone therapy and surgical referrals, and highlighted systemwide access routes including NYC Care and in‑hospital financial counseling.
Yeadon, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Yeadon council approved multiple grant applications and authorized grant submission for equipment: LSA grants were pursued for a street sweeper and a Class 8 plow truck, the engineer reported LSA and DCED awards for park phase 2 that cover the borough match, and the police department’s LSA request to fund four vehicles was approved for submission.
Yeadon, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
At the Yeadon Borough meeting a resident appealed a denied handicap‑parking permit citing mobility challenges and property layout; council said the item is on the agenda and will review photos before deciding. Separately, Jeffrey Harmon requested the council’s help to reinstate a community tennis program and council agreed to follow up about grants and a partnership.